RoadVitals

2023 Chevrolet Traverse Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jul 16, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 85 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Jul 16, 2026

While driving on the highway all of a sudden the vehicle started to vibrate and smell like metal burning . Merged off the highway to find my brakes where super hot. Pulled over for a little bit and drove home very slowly . Mechanic said the pads were locked on the rotors and completely destroyed both pads and rotors. Will be taking vehicle to chevy dealer because I dont feel safe driving my family .

NHTSA ID
11750730
Incident
Jul 11, 2026
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jun 15, 2026

To make a very long story short, I was having major software issues with my vehicle. I had the car "blackout" lights screens and everything turn off then when it powered on i would have service lights on for my brakes. I also had my reverse camera go out a few times and my lane assistant light on dash say its not working. All to find out i had a faulty rear control module. Upon replacement i learned this EXACT rear control module is the same one used in other GM vehicles noted in several recalls but the part itself has never been directly recalled. So now I have the same exact part in my vehicle again which is bound to fail again at some point. My vehicle is only 3 years old and has done this with children in the car. I let GM know numerous times and they said since the part is replaced its fine. But I know this exact part is not safe. If you look up the model number on the rear control module you will see how many times it is noted in service bulletins and is main contributor to these issues. Please recall the 2023 chevy traverse. I dont want this part just "updated" it needs redesigned.

NHTSA ID
11744334
Incident
May 1, 2026
Brakes
Filed Mar 17, 2026

Car started making a load vibrational noise on the highway. When we got to the next stopping point, the right front brakes were extremely hot and smelly. When the brakes were taken apart to inspect/replace parts, it was identified that the seals that protect the pistons had shrunk and were no longer attached to the caliper/piston. Corrosion was evident because of this causing a sticky caliper. Contacted chevy dealer who said the calipers were back ordered. That's an indication that this problem is real and has caused a shortage of replacement parts. Wait time for replacement caliper was said to be 7-10 days. The only parts that seemed to be available to get the car usable in a short period of time were aftermarket and that was even strained. Picture submitted shows. Seals were not pulled out, they were that loose to fall out.

NHTSA ID
11725016
Incident
Mar 12, 2026
BrakesElectrical
Filed Mar 2, 2026

I have read several things about EBCM and the control power circuit being above threshold and wondering if this is a recall for this model? I am getting 3 error codes C0800, B1325, & U0151 for this vehicle. (General Motors is recalling over 449,000 SUVs and pickups (2023–2024 Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Suburban/Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and select Silverado/Sierra 1500) due to a software fault in the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) . This issue prevents the brake warning light from illuminating if brake fluid drops, increasing crash risk.) It's showing the same issues as above.

NHTSA ID
11721367
Incident
Dec 13, 2025
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Sep 4, 2025

Front passenger caliber lock up

NHTSA ID
11684987
Incident
Sep 4, 2025
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Aug 22, 2025

While practicing parallel parking in the vehicle for about 1 hour, upon leaving the parking lot, there was a message that popped up on the dashboard reading, “SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST”. When driving the vehicle out the parking lot, the brakes were hard when pressing and the vehicle took a while to brake. I found myself braking at a far distance in order to stop the car at the nearest stop light. I turned my emergency lights and drove carefully home, since the engine light came on, which I parked and turned off the car. The next day, I turn on the vehicle and the engine light is still on, I take it to the local Auto Zone for a code, code P0556 is showing BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE SENSOR. I then call the dealership, they tow the vehicle and upon arrival they run diagnostics and text me the following message: “ Buckalew Chevrolet: They looked into all of those. They'd have been induced by the parking brake situation, however eveything in the computers have moved to "history" standing which means the vehicle no longer deems it an issue. If a code is not active or current, there is not much I can do with it. It shows us what the computer saw as having an issue, but not what the issue is or how it occured. Without us being able to duplicate it or it actively giving a signal that we can measure, we are kind of stuck without a paddle.” They next say they don’t find anything and they cannot fix it, there I have to go pick up my vehicle. Therefore I do, but the following weekend I go practice parallel parking AGAIN, and the issue happens all over again with the EMERGENCY BRAKE ASSIST turning on by itself, I continue to have braking problems. “STEERING ASSIST IS REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE” reads on the dashboard, I call the dealership, they say I have to bring the vehicle in when it’s actively having the issue, and I explain that once I turned off the car, the dashboard message disappeared. No response, no resolution. the dealership just brushed it off and said it was nothing.

NHTSA ID
11682297
Incident
Jun 2, 2024
Brakes
Filed Aug 14, 2025

The second major safety issue with this vehicle occurred on 5/15/2025 when we lost control of the vehicle while traveling on the highway. During this time, the windshield wipers went halfway up and stayed up. The radio randomly turned on and off. The horn randomly honked. The air didn’t work. There was no ability to turn on hazard lights to warn other drivers. We had no ability to brake as the brakes felt hard and didn’t slow the vehicle. Steering was nearly impossible as the wheel felt locked in place and barely moved to either side. At the time we got several warning lights including theft protection and brake service. The vehicle had 27,965 miles on it at the time.

NHTSA ID
11680782
Incident
May 15, 2025
Brakes
Filed Aug 14, 2025

The first major safety issue occurred on 4/2/2025 when we had brake malfunction. Brakes did not work properly creating a very dangerous situation when the vehicle wouldn’t stop when applying pressure on the brakes. The brakes made a strange noise, felt hard, and didn’t slow the vehicle as they typically do. At the time we received a service brake sensor notification. Car was “repaired” at the Elco dealership where the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle had 25,597 miles on it.

NHTSA ID
11680781
Incident
Apr 2, 2025
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Mar 3, 2025

The contact's wife owns a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the right turn signal light illuminated and blinked intermittently. The contact's wife noticed that the rear passenger’s side brake light and signal light failed to work as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake light had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that on a separate occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and made an abnormal sound. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on 4 separate occasions. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.

NHTSA ID
11645971
Incident
Feb 3, 2025
Mileage
26,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 25, 2024

Noticeable Hard shifting, Transmission concerns vehicle woul d not move during acceleration when pulling into driveway. V ehicle placed in park and back to drive vehicle would not mo ve. Noisy braking. Delayed acceleration on when leaving s top or red light or freeway driving. Rough idling Noisy idle Transmission concern

NHTSA ID
11604400
Incident
Mar 29, 2024
BrakesElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 15, 2023
Crash reported

I was trying to park on a little steep driveway. Somehow I got out of the car when it is D gear. In seconds I realized the car is moving forward and jumped right back in the car, hit the brakes and switch D to P. The car didn't stopped. I remember buckled up sign on display and I did. Then I pushed the start button tried to stop and start it again, the car didn't stopped. The car continued to move down from driveway to backyard down the slope hitting and badly damaging a tramboline and a chair on its way and only stopped after hitting a tree. Then the engine worked when I pushed start button.I was able to reverse back to driveway again. I was lucky the kids were at school and there was a tree stopping the car to fall the little creek at the end of property line. Did I forget the car in auto shut off or simply shut the engine while it is on D? I am not sure exactly when I was able to switch gear P, it was before or after the buckle up sign. I don't remember any other warnings like "switch D to P to Park" before I left the car.(Normally it says) This acccident happened the day after we took it to service for 10k milage maintenance , oil change ,tire rotation, 27. Inspection. I am suspecting a main system malfunction because, after it came back from the 10k maintenance service, it was giving a strange alarm sound at random times when driver door opens. Alarm was louder and faster then normal warnings like remote left in the car etc. and there wasn't any warning on the display, indicating what it was about. I am suspecting power terrain and brake failure too. I don't know if my car does have an auto brake to stop itself and avoid sliding down a slope when driver is out of the car. I don't know if my car has a sensor showing if the driver is seated or not. Overall I experienced a dangerous situation and my attempts to stop it was unsuccessful.

NHTSA ID
11555218
Incident
Nov 14, 2023

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .